with Michelle Rowland MP

Western Sydney has always been the place I call home .

I was born in Blacktown Hospital ; I attended St Bernadette ’ s in Lalor Park and got my first job at a supermarket in Blacktown .

In the years that followed , I practised as a lawyer , Michael and I got married , I was elected as Deputy Mayor of Blacktown Council , became the Federal Member for Greenway and a mum to my two daughters , Octavia and Aurelia .

Over 11 years have passed since I was first elected as the member for our electorate , but my passion for affording everyone in Greenway - regardless of their background - equal opportunities to succeed , remains the same .

After all , as parents there is nothing we want more than to provide our children with more opportunities and support than what we had .

That ’ s why it has always been my priority , and that of Labor ’ s , to create good , secure and local job opportunities for the people of Western Sydney . Our plan includes : 1 . A Future Made in Australia : After almost a decade of key manufacturing sectors shifting offshore , we ’ ve seen the consequences : missed opportunities and jobs , and a nation left over-exposed to global supply chains when the pandemic hit .

We need to make more things here – in Australia – and Labor has a plan .

By modernising the transmission grid to improve the supply of cheap renewable energy , our plan will place downwards pressure on energy prices , lower costs for manufacturers , and make domestic producers more competitive .

Cheaper energy , in conjunction with our National Reconstruction Fund , will invest in local manufacturing to support the growth of high-value industries including food manufacturing , medical production , transport manufacturing and 3D printing . This is a plan for the future .

2 . Addressing Australia ’ s Critical Skills Gap : TAFE graduates earn an average of $ 19,000 a year more than those without qualifications , and adds billions to the economy .

However , we have a critical skills gap in this country . Today we have 70,000 fewer apprenticeships and traineeships compared to 2013 .

That ’ s why we will provide more Australians access to Fee-Free TAFE and create 20,000 more university places to tackle the skill shortages that are holding

back our COVID-19 comeback . 3 . SBS Relocation : I ’ m dedicated to addressing the imbalance in infrastructure , skilled jobs and cultural investment in Western Sydney by leveraging the nation ’ s multicultural broadcaster .

Should a Labor Government be elected , we look forward to commissioning a feasibility study into the relocation of the SBS to Western Sydney ,

alongside the provision of a multi-purpose space for public use .

It has been estimated that construction of a new SBS headquarters in Western Sydney would create almost 400 jobs and generate $ 85 million for the Sydney economy .

Together , with the best plan for secure , well-paying jobs , we can create a better future for all .